Spray gun transition piece



my 11, 1965 R. ROWE SPRAY GUN TRANSITION PIECE Filed Aug. 20, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ROBERT ROWE lama/1 4% ATTORNEY May 11, 1965 R. ROWE SPRAY TRANSITIONPIECE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1963 INVENTOR.

ROBERT ROWE ATTORNEY screw type connection.

United States Patent 3,182,866 SPRAY GUN TRANSITION PIECE Robert Rowe,140-60 Beech Ave, Flushing, N.Y. Filed Aug. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 303,373 2Claims. (Cl. 222-464) This invention relates to spray gun adaptors andmore particularly to improved coupling means or transition piecesbetween the spray gun and the paint supply source, such as theconventional one quart can.

Hand-held, trigger actuated guns for spraying paints have been in commonusage for some time now. In large scale, industrial applications, thesupply of paint is remote from the gun, there being provided suitableconduits or ducts to deliver the paint to the gun under condition-s ofpressure This apparatus is fairly standard. The gun may be switched fromone supply source to another as the need for different colors arises or,alternatively, a separate gun may be used for each color if the samecolors are to be used over and over again.

However, where only small quantities of paint are to be sprayed at atime, or spraying is done infrequently, problems concerning adaptabilityand ease of use of the gun as well as wastage of paint arise. These arethe conditions usually encountered by the average homeowner ordo-it-yourself class of painter. 1

The present invention, by means of a thin sheet metal member, provides asimple, inexpensively manufactured and easily installed adaptor, whichpermits the direct coupling of a spray gun to the standard one quartsupply can. The present invention further provides versatility so thatseveral types of spray guns may be used with a standard one quart can ofpaint. A further advantage of the present invention is that when astandard spray gun is used, the suction tube is properly positioned foroptimum utility in the lowermost peripheral area of the standard paintcan. Thus, the full contents of the can may be used with little or nowastage.

In effect, the adaptor or transition piece of the present invention is atemporary replacement for the regular cover of the paint can, and isused only during the actual spraying operation. The transition piece isinstalled and removed in the same manner and as easily as the originalcan cover. In one embodiment the periphery of the transition piece isprovided with an annular lip portion that mates with the paint can bodyrim as did the original cover. In another embodiment the periphery ofthe transition piece is substantially flat there being provided toggletype or eccentric clamp means to securely, but releasably, join thepaint can body to the transition piece. In either case the centralportion of the transition piece is provided with means for coupling tostandard type spray gun connectors. In order to insure that the siphontube is properly positioned, one embodiment of the present inventionprovides coupling means which, when operatively installed, will berecessed in the paint can body. Thus, the gun may be installed and be Byway of contrast, prior art devices of thisgeneral class were adaptableonly to a'specialized or particular brand of spray gun. This isexemplified by the United States patents issued to I; L. CunninghamandE. F. Wegener, Numbers 2,051,518 and 2,228,861, respectively. It willbe seen that the spray guns disclosed therein are not the kind in mostcommon usage today. The illustrated guns have outwardly extending armsadapted to engage pintles oneither side of the adaptor. Further, theadaptors extend substantially above the top of the paint can. In theCunningham patent the, adaptor is comprised of a pair of heavy walled,machined or cast members. These cumbersome and unwieldy prior artdevices add'considerready for use by a simple I 3,182,866 Patented M ay11, 1965 ice able weight to the paint can and are relatively costly tomanufacture as compared to the simple stamping of the present invention.Consequently, commercial acceptance of the prior art has been quitelimited.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide asimple, low cost transition piece whereby a standard spray gun may beused with the standard one quart can of paint.

It is another object to provide a spray gun transition piece that may beattached to the peripheral lip portion of a standard paint can.

An additional object is to provide a transition piece having screw typemeans for threadable connection to a conventional spray gun.

A further object is to provide a light-weight, inexpensive sheet metaltransition piece that may be fabricated by simple, standardmanufacturing techniques.

Still another object is to provide a transition piece that provides forthe positioning of the spray gun suction tube at the lowermost,peripheral point within the paint can.

Theseand other features, objects and advantages of the invention will,in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part, becomeobvious from the following more detailed description of the invention,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which form anintegral part thereof.

In various figures of the drawings like reference characters designatelike parts.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, sectional elevation view of a spray gun/paintcan transition piece fabricated in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view, partly in section, of an alternativeembodiment having clamping means cooperating therewith;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view, partly in section, illustrating atransition member for an alternative spray gun; and

FIG. 4 is an elevation view, partly in section, illustrating stillanother transition member.

With reference now to the drawings, there is shown a hand-held spray gungenerally designated by the reference character 10. Trigger member 12 isadapted to actuate valve 14, whereby the flow of air from the compressorsource (not shown) is regulated. The spray gun is also provided with aplunger 16, which acts to vary the aperture size of nozzle 18 inaccordance with the requirements of the particular application. Suctiontube 20 which is integral with the spray gun and which is in communication with both the supply of compressed air and the nozzle, passesthrough downwardly depending, tubular boss 22. Preferably, the lowermostend portion of the suction tube should be positioned within the paintcan proximate the periphery of the base portion thereof when the gun isin use. Nut 26 is captured on the threaded lower end of boss 22 of thespray gun.

The standard paint can is comprised of a base portion 28 and a circularbody portion 30 which is provided at its upper, open end with an annulargrooved lip 32 of somewhat smaller diameter than the can body. 'Assupplied by the paint manufacturer, the can is closed'by a coverprovided with a peripheral portion adapted to mate with annular groove32. The aforementioned components of the gun and the can represent theenvironment of, and theelements cooperating with the present invention.

i In one form of the present invention, as illustrated in 32 issubstantially the same as that between ,the originai can cover and bodyso that a seal is provided, as well as a gripping action to hold the gunto the can. The transition piece is also provided with an upstandingthreaded stud 44 having a central opening 46. When the transition pieceis in place, the suction tube passes through opening 46 and nut 26 isadvanced into engagement with stud 44. Suitable packings may be includedin nut 26 to prevent leakage past the threads. It should be noted thatboth the transition piece and the stud are dimensioned such that the endof the suction tube, which is normally of a standard length, ispositioned at the juncture of a one quart can body base member and sidewall.

A modification of the hereinabove described invention is illustrated inFIG. 2. As shown therein, transition piece 50 has a substantially flatperipheral margin, the diameter of which is approximately equal to thepaint can body. Hollow, threaded stud 52 is secured to the upper surfaceof the transition piece, as by welding. As will be noted in thedrawings, a split circumferential clamp 54 captures both the peripheraledge of the transition piece and bead 56 at the topmost edge of thepaint can body. A pivotal, eccentric latch mechanism 58 locks the assembly by means of a camming action. To insurethat all the paint isdelivered to the spray gun, the central portion of the transition piecewhich stud 52 is mounted is recessed below the upper level of the can,approximately one inch. Thus, the spray gun will have its standardlength suction tube positioned at the juncture of the can body and basemember. Transition piece 50 is adapted for use with a spray gun it)having a large diameter nut 26'. This type gun is more commonly usedwith a Wide mouthed jar, generally shorter, but wider than a one quartcan. Because of the novel transition piece of the present invention, itmay be coupled directly to a standard one quart paint can. This preventsthe need to transfer paint from the can to the jar in order to spraypaint. Gasket 59, fabricated from a suitable material for providingsealing, is positioned between the transition piece 50 and the top ofthe paint can body. As before, the end of the suction tube is adapted tobe positioned at the juncture of the paint can body base member and sidewall.

Still another embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. Transition piece 60 has aperipheral lip portion 62 much the same as that illustrated in FIG. 1.The lip portion is adapted to mate with the annular groove 32 of thepaint can body to provide sealing therebetween and a gripping action tohold the gun to the can. The transition piece is further provided with athreaded portion 64 which may be engaged by nut 26' after the suctiontube 20 is inserted in the can. 'As may be seen in FIG. 3, there is anannular space between lip portion 62 and threaded portion 64 toaccommodate the wall thickness of the nut in order to permit tighteningthereof.

It may also be seen in FIG. 3 that the central portion of transitionpiece 60, on which threaded portion 64 is positioned, is recessed belowthe top of the can approximately one inch. This will assure that the endof the suction tube is positioned at the juncture of the paint can bodybase member and sidewall. Since one quart paint cans are generally ofastandard size, and since the suction tubes of various make guns aresubstantially the same length, this construction permits the use of thespray gun directly with the original can in which the paint waspurchased. e

In the embodiment of FIG. 4 transition member 70 is provided with acapturednut 72and a hollow siphon tube 74 in communication therewith.The peripheral lip portion of the transition piece may be formedaccording to either of the embodiments hereinbefore described. For

illustrative purposes however, a downwardly depending lip 76 is shown.It is to be understood that the peripheral lip of the transition pieceis adapted to matewith the annular groove in the paint can body.

Various methods may be employed for assembling trative purposes, a nuthaving an inwardly turned rim 7 8 adapted to loosely engage annulargroove 30 in the transition member. The suction tube may be secured tothe transition member by such means as brazing at 82.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 has utility in that it is adaptable to a greatvariety of spray guns. It is obvious that captured nut 72 may beselected to mate with the threaded boss of the spray gun. Also it isenvisioned that the nut and siphon tube provided with the gun will bediscarded, to be replaced by the embodiment of FIG. 4. By this means itcan be assured that the siphon tube will be positioned at the junctureof the paint can body and the base member thereof.

The various embodiments described hereinabove have, as common features,simplicity of construction and ease of use. The machinery and assemblytechniques required for fabrication are of the lowest order ofcomplexity, thus making for an inexpensive product, well within themeans of the average homeowner. The cost'is sufficiently low, as topermit the transition piece to be given away With the can of paint. Inkeeping with the simplicity of manufacture is the extreme case ofapplication. The transition pieces are merely pressed onto the can, inthe same manner as the original cover and a nut is hand-tightened. Whenthe alternative structure, having a flat periphery, is desired, aninexpensive yet effective clamp is used in combination therewith toprovide simple means to retain the gun and paint can. Because of theannular seal provided between the paint can and transition piece lips,or .with the 'use of a flat annular gasket, the gun may be left inposition for quite some time without fear of deterioration of the paint.a

In the foregoing description, reference to one quart paint cans,circumferential clamps and metal transition pieces is primarily forpurposes of illustration. By proper dimensioning, the transition piececan be designed for one pint cans for example. Other types of clampingarrangements may be employed and the transition piece may be fabricatedfrom a suitable plastic.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiments of theinvention presently contemplated and it is to be understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A transition piece for securing a handheld, trigger operated spraygun, having a downwardly depending suction tube and a captured nutconcentric thereabout to a necldess paint can having an annular, coverretaining groove and a peripheral bead at its upper end comprising:

(a) a thin, sheet metal closure member adapted to be seated directly onthe paint can annular groove, said closure member being provided with arelatively small central aperture as compared with the annular coverretaining groove of the paint can, the central aperture being adapted toreceive the spray gun suction tube in the assembled condition;

(b) retaining means positioned proximate the periphcry of said closureimember, said retaining means adapted to secure said closure memberto'said paint can; and

(c) a hollow, externally threaded, vertically standing stud integralwith said closure member and coaxially disposed about the centralaperture of said closure member said stud being positioned below the topsurface of the paint can body, said stud being adapted for threadableengagement with the spray gun nut when said closure member is secured tothe paint can by said retaining means, whereby the spray gun suctiontube is positioned a at the lowermost juncture of the paint can basemember and side wall l 2 A transition piece'for securing a handheld,trigger operated spray gun having an externally threaded, downwardlydepending boss toa neckless paint can having an annular, cover retaininggroove and a peripheral bead at its upper end comprising:

(a) a closure member adapted to be seated directly on the paint canannular groove, said closure mem- V ber being provided with an aperturetherethrough; (b) retaining means positioned proximate the periphery ofsaid closure member, said retaining means comprising an annular,downwardly depending peripheral lip adapted to mate with the annularcover retaining groove of the paint can body; (c) an internallythreaded, hollow coupling member captured in a depression on the uppersurface of' said closure member concentrically with said aperture, saidcoupling member being positioned below the top surface of said closuremember, said coupling member adapted to threadably engage the externallythreaded spray gun boss; and

(d) a downwardly depending, hollow suction tube secured to said closuremember, said tube being in 7 communication with said aperture and saidcoupling member whereby said tube is positioned :at the lowerrnostjuncture of the paint can base member and side wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,060 11/38Conner 222540 2,249,082 7/41 Jenkins 22-464 X 2,332,414 10/43 Tome222-464 X 2,587,344 2/52 Livingstone 222-570 X 2,751,123 6/56 Kubles etal 222464 X LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

1. A TRANSITION PIECE FOR SECURING A HANDHELD, TRIGGER OPERATED SPRAYGUN, HAVING A DOWNWADLY DEPENDING SUCTION TUBE AND A CAPTURED NUTCONCENTRIC THEREABOUT TO A NECKLESS PAINT CAN HAVING AN ANNULAR, COVERRETAINING GROOVE AND A PERIPHERAL BEAD AT ITS UPPER END COMPRISING: (A)A THIN, SHEET METAL CLOSURE MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE SEATED DIRECTLY ON THEPAINT CAN ANNULAR GROOVE, SAID CLOSURE MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH ARELATIVELY SMALL CENTRAL APERTURE BEING COMPARED WITH THE ANNULAR COVERRETAINING GROOVE OF THE PAINT CAN, THE CENTRAL APERTURE BEING ADAPTED TORECEIVE THE SPRAY GUN SUCTION TUBE IN THE ASSEMBLED CONDITION; (B)RETAINING MEANS POSITIONED PROXIMATE THE PERIPHERY OF SAID CLOSUREMEMBER, SAID RETAINING MEANS ADAPTED TO SECURED SAID CLOSURE MEMBER TOSAID PAINT CAN; AND (C) A HOLLOW, EXTERNALLY THREADED, VERTICALLYSTANDING STUB INTEGRAL WITH SAID CLOSURE MEMBER AND COAXIALLY DISPOSEDABOUT THE CENTRAL APERTURE OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER SAID STUB BEINGPOSITIONED BELOW THE TOP SURFACE OF THE PAINT CAN BODY, SAID STUD BEINGADAPTED FOR THREADABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SPRAY GUN NUT WHEN SAIDCLOSURE MEMBER IS SECURED TO THE PAINT CAN BE SAID RETAINING MEANS,WHEREBY THE SPRAY GUN SECTION TUBE IS POSITIONED AT THE LOWERMOSTJUCTURE OF THE PAINT CAN BASE MEMBER AND SIDE WALL.